In 1983, the M151A2, the then current incarnation of the Jeep, played a vital role in the American invasion of Grenada
Grenada is a island nation in the southern Caribbean comprising the island of Grenada itself and six smaller islands. It gained independence from Great Britain in 1974, though Queen Elizabeth remained Head of State, and was represented by her appointed Governor General. There was no direct involvement in Grenadian affairs by the British, however, which was perhaps unfortunate as in March 1979 the democratic government was overthrown in a bloodless coup by the New Jewel Movement – a Marxist party having no truck with democracy.
The new Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, proved to be insufficiently Marxist for his comrades; he was overthrown by Stalinists on October 13,1983. Things quickly got very nasty indeed; Bishop, his partner, three ministers, two trade union officials and up to 100 civilians were killed when attempts were made to re-instate Bishop’s government. The Grenadian Army, re-titled the People’s Revolutionary Army, declared martial law, placed the people of Grenada under curfew and detained the Governor General.
The seizure of power by hard-line Stalinists was of great conce…
